Note	In this deployment guide, the term thin client refers to repurposed PCs, or other supported client devices set up to provide access to hosted virtual desktops (HVD).

With the Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME) for Windows software, users can place and receive calls with their Cisco Unified Communications clients in a virtual environment. The Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine software runs on the thin client, and the Cisco Unified Communications client and Cisco VXME Utilities runs on the Microsoft Windows hosted virtual desktop (HVD), in the data center. To reduce latency and to enhance media quality, Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine streams media between the thin clients without going through the hosted virtual desktops.

Figure 1. Determine Whether You Need Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine for Windows. Use the following flowchart to determine whether you require VXME for your virtual environment.

Figure 2. Example Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine for Windows Deployment. The following image depicts an example deployment and illustrates traffic and protocol usage.

The user experience with Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine and a supported Cisco Unified Communications client in a virtual environment is very similar to the experience provided by a standard Cisco Unified Communications client installation, with some differences:

• The Cisco Unified Communications client detects the virtual environment at run time and starts in virtualization mode.

• Users can choose to control their Cisco IP Phone or to use their computer to make and receive calls. The default phone selection is Use my computer for calls. After device selection, the Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine application starts the transfer of the phone configuration data for that user. For more information, see Configuration Files.

• Users manage their camera and audio devices by using the Device Selector, which is located in the Windows notification area. The Show button on the following option tabs directs users to the Device Selector:

  • File > Options > Audio

  • File > Options > Video

    Note	With Cisco Jabber or Cisco UC Integration for Microsoft Lync Release 9.7(2) or later, users can also select a video device and see their video preview with the selected camera.

• If a connection failure between the thin client and the HVD occurs, the user is prompted to log back on to the HVD. If the user has an active call, it is preserved. The user can end the call by using one of the accessories, such as the keyboard. If the user does not have an accessory with which to end the call, the user can ask the other party to end the call. If there are held calls when the connection failure occurs, any parties on hold will not be aware of the connection failure. After logging back on to the HVD, the user can send an instant message (IM) to the parties that were left on hold.

• If the thin client loses the connection to the network, the user is prompted to log back on to the HVD. If the connection failure occurs during a call, the call is lost. After reconnecting, the user can try to call the other party or send an IM. For the other party to the call, silence is the only indication that the call has dropped.

• By default, all calls send and receive video if both parties have video capability. Users can select their preference from the following options:

  • Always start calls with video: Starts all calls as video calls, which send local video

  • Never start calls with video: Starts all calls as audio-only calls

  This setting applies to all calls that the user places and receives. The default setting is Always start calls with video. Users can change this setting in File > Options > Calls.

  Note	You can disable video globally or on a per-device basis on the Cisco Unified Communications Manager. Navigate to System > Enterprise Phone Configuration and set Video Calling to Disabled.

• Some menus and options for the supported Cisco Unified Communications clients are different. For example, users can receive Desktop Share invitations but cannot initiate them.

In a virtual environment, you install Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine for Windows on a supported desktop virtualization platform. You install a supported Cisco Unified Communications client on the hosted virtual desktops (HVD), rather than on client computers (PCs). If your Cisco Unified Communications client does not include Cisco VXME Utilities, you must install that first. Otherwise, the installation is the same as the installation of the Cisco Unified Communications client in a nonvirtual environment.

When you add devices for virtual users to the Cisco Unified Communications Manager, the device type is Cisco Unified Client Services Framework (CSF). Each user should have only one CSF device. If multiple CSF devices exist for a user, Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine selects the first device in the alphabetical list. To prevent issues caused by multiple registrations for the same user on the Cisco Unified Communications Manager, advise users to sign in to only one HVD or client at a time. A CSF device user can register with the Unified Communications Manager from only one client at a time. Multiple registrations from multiple clients with the same CSF device are not supported.

You must also enable the computer-telephony integration (CTI) protocol for all virtual Cisco Unified Communications client users.

Tip	Before you begin to install the Cisco Unified Communications client on the HVD, see the Release Notes for Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine for Windows for your release and for the Cisco Unified Communications client.

Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine (VXME) for Windows supports Cisco Media Services Interface (MSI) for Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 8. Install Cisco MSI on each thin client on which you install Cisco VXME for Windows. For version requirements, see the Release Notes for Cisco Virtualization Experience Media Engine for Windows for your release.

Note	Cisco Audio Session Tunnel (CAST) connection to the HVD is not supported.

You can download MSI for Microsoft Windows 7 or Windows 8 from http:/​/​software.cisco.com/​download/​navigator.html. Choose Products > Collaboration Endpoints > Virtual Endpoints > Virtualization Experience Media Engine and then select the software type.